A complaint has been filed in New York's state court against Michelle Kelban-Carteron by the board of managers at the Chelsea Modern condominium in Manhattan alleging that the co-chair of Latham & Watkins’ real estate practice committed breach of contract by owning and harbouring an aggressive pit bull in her unit.

'Dog racism'

Now the lawyer has hired a lawyer in the guise of Adam Leitman Bailey who is fighting back at the allegation calling it a case of discrimination, plain and simple, and tantamount to 'dog racism'.

Background

While Luna, the five-year-old pit bull mix has lived in the unit since 2012 the trouble brewed when, last June, the dog allegedly attacked a small Havanese mix named Kinjein front of the condo. Shortly after this incident, Mrs Kelban-Carteron secured certification deeming Luna a service dog for her husband - supported by a doctor’s note which claims the dog provides emotional support following a cycling injury. Her husband sued the federal government at the start of the year after allegedly being hit by a postal service truck while riding in Manhattan.

Dog - a 'sub plot'

But the condo's board has its own legal representation in Herbert Cohen, a name partner at New York’s Stiefel Cohen & Foote, who has called Luna vicious but highlighted that the main issue was a clause in the agreement which allowed the condo management to exclude dogs. Source: New York Post